Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed disappointment in the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu.
Speaking at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos on Wednesday, George criticized Yakubu for discussing lessons from Ghana’s presidential election, saying, “I am so ashamed of INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu. He was good before, but now his performance is a bad joke.”
George further predicted that Nigerians would not re-elect President Bola Tinubu in 2027, citing widespread dissatisfaction with his administration.
He insisted that there would be a vacancy in the presidency by 2027, as the people are discontented. “The anger and the hunger are almost equal on the streets of Nigeria,” he lamented, describing the ruling APC as a “congregation of strange bedfellows.”
Commenting on the PDP’s internal crisis, George blamed the party’s struggles on individuals prioritizing personal ambitions over collective interests. He specifically criticized a former PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, for his poor management of party affairs.
Despite these challenges, George expressed optimism that the PDP would resolve its issues before the 2027 elections and reiterated his support for the principle of power rotation between the North and South.
He stated: “I call our party the Iroko because it didn’t emerge from nowhere. It is entrenched in our constitution. Section 7 (3c) of the PDP constitution mandates zoning and rotation of party positions and elective offices.
“Everything that has been in the South must go to the North, and vice versa. This principle of justice, equity, and fairness is what inspired some of us to join politics. We were the first to be elected in 1999 and were handed procedures and doctrines to ensure stability.
“Unfortunately, human manipulation crept in when someone decided their ambition to be president was more important than the party’s collective interest. That’s where the issues started. We need to return to the principles handed over to us to restore stability.”
